Malignant manifestations of ovarian teratoma

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 11, 2025
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When ovarian teratomas are small, they usually do not exhibit any clinical symptoms. When teratomas become malignant, they grow faster, and if too large, may cause women to experience abdominal distension and pain. The pulling of surrounding tissues can also lead to pain in the lower abdomen on one side in women. When ovarian teratomas are severely malignant, they can invade or compress surrounding tissues, leading to related symptoms like compression of the fallopian tubes, causing infertility; or compression towards the bladder, causing frequent and urgent urination in women. The texture of teratomas is uneven. In certain special circumstances, such as when a woman suddenly changes her position, torsion or rupture of the teratoma can occur, causing acute lower abdominal pain and other symptoms of acute abdomen. Additionally, in the late stages of the disease, symptoms such as emaciation and anemia can also appear.

Other Voices

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How to treat teratoma?

Teratomas, for women, refer to ovarian teratomas. Once diagnosed, active surgical treatment is necessary. This is because such tumors could be malignant or may undergo torsion, thus requiring prompt treatment. Continued growth can cause destruction of the ovarian tissue, affecting ovarian function. If ovarian torsion occurs, it can lead to the necrosis of the ovary, also impacting its function. Therefore, surgical treatment is needed after diagnosis.

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Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Teratoma Benign and Malignant Differences

Teratoma refers to a common type of germ cell tumor, which can be classified into mature teratomas and immature teratomas. Mature teratomas are benign tumors, accounting for 10%-20% of ovarian tumors. They can occur at any age but are more common between the ages of 20 and 40. Most are unilateral, of moderate size, and usually have a single compartment filled with sebum and hair; sometimes teeth and bone can also be found. Immature teratomas, on the other hand, are malignant tumors, making up 1%-3% of ovarian teratomas. These are more frequent in younger patients, with an average age of 11 to 19 years. The ovaries are predominantly solid but may include cystic areas, primarily consisting of primitive neural tissue. The malignancy level of the ovary depends on the proportion of immature tissue, the degree of differentiation, and the content of neuroepithelial tissue.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Is it easy to get pregnant with a teratoma?

First, what is a teratoma? Teratoma is a common ovarian tumor in gynecology, with a very high incidence rate. It is generally benign and the occurrence of teratomas is related to congenital genetic factors. Generally, if a teratoma is found, the first step is to check the size of the teratoma. If it is smaller than five centimeters, tumor series tests are normal, and there is no other discomfort, observation can be initiated. If the teratoma is relatively large, larger than five centimeters, surgical intervention is required. Teratomas themselves are not related to pregnancy, but because teratomas can lead to ovarian cyst torsion, after torsion occurs, one side of the adnexa may need to be removed, which could reduce fertility.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Symptoms of ovarian teratoma

In clinical practice, some women with ovarian teratoma may not exhibit any symptoms and the presence of an ovarian teratoma might only be discovered during a physical examination. In some cases, women with ovarian teratoma may experience torsion of the tumor after vigorous activity. When torsion occurs, the patient may suddenly feel pain in one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention and, if necessary, undergo timely surgical treatment.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is surgery necessary for a teratoma?

Once the presence of a teratoma is considered, surgical treatment is recommended. Surgery serves two purposes: first, to remove ovarian cysts for disease treatment; and second, the removed ovarian cysts require routine postoperative pathology to confirm the diagnosis of ovarian teratoma. Without a pathological diagnosis, it cannot be definitively diagnosed as an ovarian teratoma; the diagnosis must be supported by pathological results.